Netflix's The New Stanford Prison Experiment Hits Top 5
The six-part reality series, filmed in a Georgia correctional facility with 30 participants, debuted on Netflix on October 21, 2026.
Netflix released The New Stanford Prison Experiment, a six-part reality series, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Within days of launch, the show has reached the Top 5 on Netflix's U.S. viewership chart, according to Screen Rant.
The series places 30 participants in a real correctional facility in Georgia for a two-week experiment. Of the group, 8 are designated as guards and 22 as prisoners. The guards leave the facility each night to stay in hotels, while the prisoners remain confined to individual cells. Participants are not limited to men.
All six episodes have a combined runtime of roughly four and a half hours.
Roots in a 1971 study
The title references the original Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted in 1971 by lead researcher Philip Zimbardo. That study was forced to end after just six days.
The original experiment concluded that oppressive environments can overpower individuals' moral fiber and make people rapidly adapt to assigned roles.
Quick answers
When did The New Stanford Prison Experiment premiere on Netflix?
The six-part reality series was released on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
How many episodes does The New Stanford Prison Experiment have?
It has six episodes, with a total runtime of roughly four and a half hours.
Where was The New Stanford Prison Experiment filmed?
It was filmed in a real correctional facility in Georgia, where 30 participants took part in a two-week experiment.